The SA Eagle Bursary Fund which has been in existence since 2002 continued with 13 students receiving bursaries towards their BTech (Education). Progress reports provided by the South African Institute of Race Relations, who administers the fund on behalf of SA Eagle, state that the students are showing satisfactory results. As in the past, students are counselled biannually, their progress is monitored and support and guidance is provided. A highlight for the year was that a total of seven students were expected to graduate at the end of 2005.

SA Eagle has been donating funds to universities in South Africa for many years. In light of the mergers of several tertiary educational institutions, this area of support was reassessed in 2005 and an amount of R100 000 was split between three universities operating in the major centres where SA Eagle has a presence.

Ad-hoc donation requests were, as usual, acknowledged by way of small monetary donations. During the course of the year a number of charitable organisations were supported in this manner.

As a result of the BEE transaction entered into between SA Eagle and Royal Bafokeng Finance, a Transformation Committee has been set up to oversee alignment of the Company with the Financial Sector Charter and Codes of Good Practice on Broad Based BEE. Corporate social investment forms part of this. The Committee is currently identifying high priority CSI projects within the Royal Bafokeng Nation in which SA Eagle can become involved.

The SA Eagle Trust Fund, set up to sponsor eagle conservation activities, comprises representatives from SA Eagle and the Endangered Wildlife Trust. The main purpose of the Fund is to evaluate and decide on funding for suitable projects.

Following the changes that the Endangered Wildlife Trust underwent in 2004, the work undertaken with their working group, the Birds of Prey Working Group, continued. The following projects, including a donation towards the Group’s AGM, received support from the SA Eagle Trust Fund:

SA Eagle’s support of the Kalahari Raptor Project continued last year. Besides support for the project’s overall objective – to change the attitude especially of stock farmers, to accommodate eagles and other species of birds of prey on their farmland – support was provided to two local schools.

Following a request to investigate the viability of a project in the form of a classroom for a rural school in the Kalahari, Project Executant Abrie Maritz, was tasked to investigate possibilities and identify potential schools in his area of operation.

Two schools were identified, Boplaas Primary School and Laerskool Saambou, both of which accommodate learners from the families of farmers and farm workers in the Kalahari. Both schools indicated that, rather than an additional classroom, it would be preferable to acquire a cooler room for the storage of perishable foods used at their boarding facilities.

In an area of extreme temperatures like the Kalahari, this facility is essential and following an assessment, funding was approved for the acquisition and installation of the units.

October 1 is known as SA Eagle National Eagle Day. This day is dedicated to educating various sectors within the broader public about the importance of raptors.

In 2005, there was a dual focus to National Eagle Day, fund raising and staff members were asked to spread the conservation message to children. As is usual for our staff, they embraced the challenge and funds, in excess of R100 000, were raised to further our conservation effort.

The SA Eagle Information Help Line, which puts farmers and the general public in contact with the field co-ordinators, as well as providing information for school children’s projects, continued. Literature, which explains the role of the Birds of Prey Working Group as well as educating the general public (especially farmers) about raptors was also circulated to callers via their office.

All Terrain Insurance Policyholders are involved in the projects supported by the SA Eagle Trust Fund by means of a pledge, made by SA Eagle and Cross Country Insurance Consultants, of R2 per policy. The income generated during 2005 amounted to around R190 000 and was used to support the various conservation projects mentioned above as well as to produce a newsletter keeping Club Members updated on the projects and activities in which they can become involved.